Konecranes’ approach to climate action on a good path – achieving the goals calls for industry transformation

While progress on Scope 1 and 2 emissions is critical, a more extensive challenge lies in addressing Scope 3 emissions that constitute a major part of our footprint, primarily derived from the use phase of our products and steel procurement. Recognizing this, we have made several advancements, and innovated electric and hybrid solutions. Continuous improvements in product development are achieved by adopting Konecranes Design for Environment concept that aims to improve the product’s environmental performance. 

The electrification of Konecranes product offerings stands front and center in reducing the use-phase emissions. "We aim to offer an electric variant for each of our diesel-powered products by 2026, which is a critical step in reducing use-phase emissions. However, it is pivotal to understand that the success in lowering the Scope 3 emissions is contingent upon the customer industries’ collective commitment in transitioning away from utilizing diesel-fueled equipment,” said Juha Pankakoski, Executive Vice President, Port Solutions, Konecranes.

What does this mean in practice? Konecranes’ Scope 3 emissions in the category of the use of sold products will be higher if the customers purchase products with high carbon footprint (diesel-driven equipment) and respectively lower if electric equipment is purchased instead. It is also good to understand that by investing in electric equipment, our customers’ own operations (Scope 1 & 2) carbon footprint will be significantly lower than purchasing diesel-driven products. 

Konecranes’ service offerings, focused on maintenance and modernizations, advocate circular economy practices by extending the lifecycles of products, aligned with Konecranes' sustainability goals. With digitalization at the core of our operations, we also leverage IoT, data analytics and automation to attain predictive maintenance and enhance efficiency. 

Despite significant progress, the journey is far from complete. 

“We are committed to further reducing emissions from our operations, setting our sights on becoming carbon neutral by 2030. To achieve this, we are investing in energy efficiency improvements, utilizing renewable energy, and continuing the electrification of our vehicle fleet. As a final step, the unavoidable remaining emissions to be offset. We also continue our efforts to fulfill the target of halving our Scope 3 emissions by 2030. This requires fostering partnerships across the value chain, pushing for technological innovation to mitigate reliance on fossil fuels, and encouraging suppliers to adopt low-carbon production methods,” said Anniina Virta-Toikka. 

At Konecranes, we are not just adapting to a future of lower carbon emissions—we are actively shaping it. Our initiatives are as comprehensive as they are determined, encompassing everything from reducing emissions to enhancing circularity and advocating for industry change. By recognizing and utilizing our ability to influence and accelerate change beyond our immediate operations, we not only contribute to a more sustainable future but also aim to lead by example, demonstrating how companies can balance environmental responsibility with business success.